Happy Fifteenth Anniversary
/Fifteen things for fifteen years. Had I known fifteen years would be this good, I would have married you sooner so I could be here faster.
Read MoreFifteen things for fifteen years. Had I known fifteen years would be this good, I would have married you sooner so I could be here faster.
Read MoreThe other day Kingston asked me what the difference was between gas and deisel fuel. "Um..." I said, stalling, "I think it's all about how the engine uses the fuel... but we can Google it when we get home.". What I was really thinking was that my dad would have known the answer to that question. A year and half after his death I still have to remind myself that he isn't there for me to call.
Last year was the year of "firsts" in my journey of grief. I dreaded Father's Day for months and spent the week weepy and feeling hollow. Finally, the day I had been anxious about arrived and I was strangely OK. I missed my dad and thought of the many things I loved about him, but I also enjoyed making the day special for Nate and his dad. It was one of the first times that I felt like I was able to understand the mix of sorrow and joy that often goes hand in hand with losing loved ones.
This year has been different. I still miss my dad, I still get weepy from time to time and I still can't bring myself to delete his contact info in my phone. But healing has occurred. When I think of him (which is often) I am able to smile and find joy and peace in the things I loved and miss about him. Like the way he could fix anything, and had a story to tell about everything. The way he said my name and the fluctuation in his voice when he said "This is your dad..." on the phone. He sounded like the Eeyore character from Winnie the Pooh. When I smell someone who has the unique scent of cigarette smoke and aftershave I breathe in deeply and think of him (and cough /get weird looks from strangers).
As I marvel at God's goodness to heal my heart and turn such sorrow into joy and hope, I think about so many of my friends who have lost parents this year. I'm not sure if more of my friends are experiencing the death of their parents because we are aging, or if I'm just more aware of it. Either way, I wanted to share some things that have helped me, in hopes they will make your journey easier too.
My prayer for you (and for myself) is that we would find joy this Father's Day, not only in the memories of our dad's, but in the love and healing of God the Father. Blessings!
*originally posted June 2016
The average American family spends a minimum of eight hundred dollars a month on health insurance premiums and has a family deductible of eight thousand dollars. With almost eighty percent of American workers reporting that they live paycheck to paycheck, it's easy to see how one medical emergency can cause financial hardship. I don't know about you, but every dollar counts in our family. We want to be good stewards of what we have been given, and use our resources wisely. So a few years ago we looked at the tens of thousands of dollars we were spending annually on healthcare and realized we weren't really utilizing what we were paying for.
We began the search for an alternative, from going out on our own for privitized insurance to medi-share co-op's. We found the latter to be in the best interest for our family, both in quality of care and in financial terms. Medi-share plans, or health payment co-op's require members to send in a monthly share (this is like a health insurance premium) that is then used to pay other member's medical expenses. If our family has a medical expense we collect the bill from the provider, submit it to our co-op electronically via an app and then wait for checks from other member's to arrive to pay our bill. It's simple and cost effective and has saved us LITERALLY thousands of dollars over the past year.
Pros of a Medi-share plan:
Cons of a Medi-share plan:
I was so anxious about leaving traditional insurance because I had always had it. Now, I can't see going back. We have weathered everything from strep throat to kidney stones to a sprained ankle using our co-op (Samaritan Ministries) and it has saved us thousands of dollars. If you are wanting to make a change in your health coverage here are some things you can do:
1. Add up how much your insurance costs you per year - from premiums, to co pays to your deductible. How much would it cost your family if someone had to max your out of pocket expenses?
2. Research medi-share companies. A simple Google search will highlight a number of options, and for us Samaritan Ministries was the best. Read through their policies and procedures and call with specific questions.
3. Chat with a friend who uses medi-share. Hearing my friend Betsy's medi-share experience was what really made me feel like I could make it work for our family.
Feel free to contact me with questions and I will happily share more of our experience!
xoxo,
Theresa
Walking to the mailbox each day and retrieving mail is one of my favorite simple daily pleasures. Maybe I just have friends who send great mail, but I truly look forward to this small thing each day. Christmas only amplifies these feelings as our mailbox is stuffed with sparkly cards and well wishes from friends, whose family photos then adorn the side of our (very untidy) refrigerator.
Read MoreTheresa Jones, blogger and Essential Oil advocate
Hey! I’m Theresa - wife, mama to two kiddos, dog mom to Bruce, leader of a wellness tribe and follower of Jesus. Here you will find a little bit of everything: what I’m learning in life, parts of my journey with grief and miscarriage, pictures of my kids, things Bruce is doing that drive me crazy and tips on healthy living that are simple and affordable. I’ll also share my love for coffee, Target and cheesecake - because I’m about all things in moderation!